Adjustable draw die

ABSTRACT

An adjustable die for drawing polygonal tube, rod, bar, or the like having a casing with a polygonal recess therein, a plurality of adjusting wedges arranged one to each side of the polygonal recess, and a plurality of die blocks having a principal angle equal to the principal angle of the polygon and a forming surface disposed substantially perpendicularly to the bisection of the principal angle of the draw block. Each block is disposed in the recess to be primarily supported by an adjusting wedge, and the wedge and block assembly is disposed against a backing plate to be axially supported against the forces of drawing.

United States Patent [111 3,

I72] Inventor William H. Phillips,.lr. 411,097 9/1925 G ma 72/468 Northbergen, NJ. 1 798,365 7/1958 Great Britain. 72/468 [211 Appl. No. 362,??969 501,355 11/1954 ltaly 72/468 ggfg z: 1971 Primary Examiner-Milton S. Mehr Assignee carmetcompany Attorneys-Richard A. Speer, Vincent G. Gioia and Howard Pittsburgh R. Berkenstock, Jr.

[54] ADJUSTABLE DRAW DIE ABSTRACT: An adjustable die for drawing polygonal tube,

rod, bar, or the like having a casing with a polygonal recess 6 Claims 6 Drawing Figs therein, a plurality of adjusting wedges arranged one to each [52] U5. Cl 72/468 Side f the polygonal recess, and a m m f i blocks haw [51 BZIC 3/00 i a in ipal angle equal to the principal angle Of the [50] Field of Search 72/468, polygon and a forming Surface disposed substamially pal-pew 467472478 dicularly to the bisection of the principal angle of the draw block. Each block is disposed in the recess to be primarily sup- [56] References Cited ported by an adjusting wedge, and the wedge and block as- C' PATENTS sembly is disposed against a backing plate to be axially sup- 493 038 9/1938 Great Britain 72/468 ported against the forces ofdrawing.

PATENYEB m2! I2?! SHEET 1 OF 2 INVEN TOR.

WILLIAM H. PHILLIPS, JR. w wg.

At rorney PAIENHEU DEEZ] 1971 3 2 ;449

SHEETZUFZ FIGB.

INVENTOR.

WILLIAM H. PHILLIPS, JR.

A f farney ADJUSTABLE DRAW DIE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to die assemblies and in particular, to draw or extrusion die assemblies which may be adjusted to exact opening dimensions while in an assembled condition. There are few adjustable dies available to the cold drawing industry for the production of rectangular wire, rod, bar, tubing and the like. Of these die assemblies, including one recently patented to me under U.S. Pat. No. 3,436,951, entitled Adjustable Draw Die, all require the changing of various filler blocks behind the draw blocks to accommodate major die size variations. The invention embodied in the aforementioned patent provides an additional feature over the prior art teaching of nominal size variation of the die opening provided by a small adjustment of the die assembly coupled with various sized filler blocks. Additional problems exist in the available adjustable-type draw die assemblies including the inability or difficulty to adjust the die opening to a zero setting while retaining an infinite upper range of die openings without substituting two or more sets of different size filler blocks to provide the desired opening range. Also, difficulty is experienced in setting up and retaining exact die size throughout forming operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an adjustable die assembly including a casing having a polygonal recess therein for containing adjustment wedges each of which is disposed against one wall of the polygonal opening and each of which has an angle corresponding in size to each angle of the intersection of the walls of the polygonal recess, and a plurality of die blocks disposed to be arranged in the recess, each of which abuts one side of each of the adjustment wedges. Each of the die blocks also has an angle which corresponds in size to the angle of an intersection of the walls of the polygonal recess, further including means for laterally adjusting each of said wedges and die blocks relative to the sides of the polygonal recess and the easing having backing means thereon for supporting the wedges and die blocks against the axial load of drawing operations, the backing means having an opening at least equal in size and in line with an opening formed by the die blocks. A preferred embodiment hereinafter illustrated and described is adapted to produce a rectangular or square wire, rod, tube, or bar wherein the setup may be accomplished merely by the place ment of a gage between one pair of draw die blocks and adjustment of two of the adjusting wedges.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of the die assembly of the invention with the cover removed.

FIG. 2 is an elevational section of the die assembly along line IIII.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the adjusting wedges and draw blocks.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a draw block of my invention.

FIG. 5 is an elevation of the block of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an end view of the block of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring not to the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates a support casing having a recess 4 which in the preferred embodiment is substantially square. Recess 4 has walls 6 and backing plate 8 with an opening 9 therethrough permitting the passage of a drawn product to exit the assembly. Contained within recess 4 and abutting both walls 6 and backing plate 8 are adjusting wedges l0 and locking wedges 12. Since the preferred embodiment illustrated is for drawing square or rectangular product, the principal angle A of wedges l0 and 12 is a right angle and is equal to that formed by adjoining walls 6 of recess 4. Contained within support casing 2 are wedge-adjusting means I4 such as the screw means illustrated in the preferred embodiment, each of which includes a locking means I6 such as ajam nut. Also contained within recess 4 and abutting against major sides 20 and 22 of wedges l0 and 12 respectively, are draw blocks 24 having a principal angle A equal to the angle defined by the adjoining walls 6 of recess 4. Major sides 26 of draw blocks 24 in the preferred embodiment include carbide inserts 27 to provide wear-resistant forming surfaces for the drawing operation. Major sides 26 define die openings 28. In the preferred embodiment die block adjusting means such as setscrews 30 are contained within support casing 2. Further, blocks 24 are adapted as shown at 29 in FIGS. 4-6 to provide a well defined opening 28 when in assembled relation. One end of block 24 is contoured as at 29 tojoin the forming surface 27 when assembled.

Also in the preferred embodiment, an indicating device 32 such as a Starret Long Range dial indicator, Number 25-2041, may operate with wedges 10 to provide positions information relating to the opening 28.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a face plate 34 may be provided to fit over the die block assembly to cover face 26 of casing 2. Cover 34 has an opening 38 communication with the die opening 28 and through to opening 9 of the backing plate 8 to permit the passage of drawn product therethrough. In the preferred embodiment of the invention and as further illustrated in FIG. 3, the capacity to adjust to a desired size of die opening 28 is provided by the arrangement of the blocks 24 and wedges l0 and 12 in the assembly. This is accomplished by coordination between adjusting block 10 and the angle B formed between principal side 20 of adjusting block 10 and wall 6 of recess 2.

Referring now to FIG. 3, I have discovered that by employing adjusting wedges l0 and 12 having a principal angle A equal to the principal angle of the opening recess 4 (which is in turn determined by the principal angle of the intersecting sides of the polygonal shape to be drawn), the size of opening 40 within wedges I0 and 12 may be infinitely adjustable within the range available from the physical size of the apparatus. Draw blocks 24 also exhibit a principal angle A equal to angle A in wedges l0 and 12 and have a major side 26 with forming surface 27 perpendicular to the bisector and that angle A. Now, opening 28 defined by the sides 26 and forming surface 27 may be represented by a term common to the family of openings available from a given setting of wedges l0 and I2 and opening 40. In the example of the rectangular openings 40 and 28 of the apparatus illustrated in figures, it may be seen that blocks 24 might be closed together such that drawing surfaces 27 defined a line giving an opening" of zero width and a length 1. Additionally, because of the rectangular configuration, angle A equals Since the sides 26 of opening 28 are perpendicular to the bisection of angle A, coordinate adjustment of blocks 24 generates equal adjustments in the length and width. Thus, as the blocks 24 are adjusted, the opening may be representable by the factor of the original length I being now the new length L less the amount of adjustment (increase, since the discussion started from the zero condition) which is seen to be the new width W; as: I=LW.

It will be further noted that the value of the family representation l is controlled by the position of adjusting wedges l0. Wedges 10 may be moved to cause the value of l to vary. Adjustment may be made causing I to approach zero and define the family of rectangles where the difference of length define width is zero, or squares. Recognizing this, it will be appreciated that this zero setting may be employed as a reference from which various rectangular sizes may be quickly and accurately set. By providing means calibrated to measure variance from the zero position, as by the indicator 32, wedges 10 may be positioned to define a family I of rectangles having a particular length minus width (L W) value. A particular die opening (one of specific length and width) might then be set by adjusting blocks 24 as against a gage to give a specific length or width which by a family relation 1 would define the other dimension (width or length). I prefer to gage the width lOlOlS 0l95 of opening 28 for a particular family allowing me to then secure the opening 28 by positioning locking wedges 12. Following the adjustment of the appropriate die opening 28, wedge locking means 16 may be secured.

Angle B, defining the slope of the side of wedges 10 and 12 opposite angle A relative to side 6, is chosen to give convenient displacement of blocks by movement of wedges l and 12 along walls 6. In the rectangular example illustrated angle B is approximately 30 which produces one unit of movement of L or W from approximately 1.7 units of movement of wedges as at 31. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this relationship may be varied to suit the size of apparatus and the accuracy of setting desired.

it may now be seen that because of the geometry of the adjusting blocks and the die blocks, each die block is supported by a three-point system (two adjacent blocks plus one wedge 10 or 12) which is always in equilibrium. During drawing or extruding, the die assembly is supported by a four-point system (adding the support of locking plate 8) and will always be in equilibrium. Therefore, draw size will not change due to any unequal forces existing within the assembly. It may be pointed out that adjusting wedges l0 serve three purposes; first, moving the draw blocks; secondly, and most importantly, to change the pocket size or I values of draw blocks; and thirdly, supporting the draw blocks. Secondary or locking wedges 12 function to center the draw blocks in the case and tighten the assembly for additional support. Utilization of backing plate 8 supports the draw blocks 24 against the axial load, and in conjunction with case 2 support the die assembly from all sides during the drawing operation.

It will thus be noted that the invention disclosed above provides an adjustable die assembly permitting an infinite variety of adjustment within the particular dimension parameters of the die body proper and providing rapid, accurate set up and a rigid locking system preventing change in the die opening and in the subsequent drawing operations.

Although one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, various adaptions and modifications may be made, such as those to create other polygonal openings 28, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjusting die assembly comprising:

a support casing;

sidewalls defining a polygonal opening in said support casbacking means for said support casing;

a plurality of polygonal adjusting wedges equal in number to the number of sidewalls, each of said wedges having a principal angle equal to a corresponding angle formed by the intersection of the two adjacent sidewalls, said wedges being supported in said casing by said backing means and each wedge being disposed adjacent one sidewall;

a plurality of polygonal die blocks equal in number to the number of polygonal adjusting wedges, each of said blocks having a principal angle equal to a corresponding angle formed by the intersection of two adjacent sidewalls;

each of said die blocks having a forming surface opposite and perpendicular to the bisector of said angle;

each of said die blocks being positioned adjacent one side of a corresponding wedge so that the forming surfaces of the blocks together define a die opening;

and means for laterally positioning said wedges along one sidewall relative to an adjacent sidewall.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said assembly includes means for laterally positioning along one side of said wedges said die blocks relative to said side walls of said polygonal opening.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said lateral positioning means are setscrews contained within said support casing and extend into said recess to engage said wedges and said blocks.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 Including indicator means cooperable with said adjusting wedges to indicate the position of said wedges with respect to the walls of said recess.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including means cooperating with said setscrews, locking said setscrews after lateral adjustment is made.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said recess is rectangular and the principal angles are 

1. An adjusting die assembly comprising: a support casing; sidewalls defining a polygonal opening in said support casing; backing means for said support casing; a plurality of polygonal adjusting wedges equal in number to the number of sidewalls, each of said wedges having a princIpal angle equal to a corresponding angle formed by the intersection of the two adjacent sidewalls, said wedges being supported in said casing by said backing means and each wedge being disposed adjacent one sidewall; a plurality of polygonal die blocks equal in number to the number of polygonal adjusting wedges, each of said blocks having a principal angle equal to a corresponding angle formed by the intersection of two adjacent sidewalls; each of said die blocks having a forming surface opposite and perpendicular to the bisector of said angle; each of said die blocks being positioned adjacent one side of a corresponding wedge so that the forming surfaces of the blocks together define a die opening; and means for laterally positioning said wedges along one sidewall relative to an adjacent sidewall.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said assembly includes means for laterally positioning along one side of said wedges said die blocks relative to said side walls of said polygonal opening.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said lateral positioning means are setscrews contained within said support casing and extend into said recess to engage said wedges and said blocks.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 including indicator means cooperable with said adjusting wedges to indicate the position of said wedges with respect to the walls of said recess.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including means cooperating with said setscrews, locking said setscrews after lateral adjustment is made.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said recess is rectangular and the principal angles are 90*. 